Box l Updated Stats

ROCHESTER, NY – Host St. John Fisher overcame a nine point fourth quarter deficit en route to a 61-58 victory over Nazareth on Saturday night in a battle of east avenue rivals.

Nazareth falls to 14-6 overall and 7-4 in conference play with the loss, while Fisher moves to 17-3 and 10-1, respectively.

After starting slow in the third quarter, Nazareth found a rhythm near the midway point.  The Golden Flyers went on a 13-0 run to close out the quarter and take a 49-42 advantage.  The run started with Veronica Peck drilling a 3-pointer.  Sam Sorge also had five points during the offensive outburst.

Nazareth extended its largest lead of the game to 51-42 early in the fourth quarter, but a Fisher 12-2 run gave the hosts a 54-53 lead. 

The Golden Flyers reclaimed the lead at 58-56 on a Lindsey Kelly layup, but on the very next possession, Fisher's Mary Kate Cusack buried a 3-pointer to re-take a 59-58 lead at the 1:34 mark.

Trailing 61-58 following two made free throws, Nazareth came up empty on the other end for the final shot of the game.

Nazareth led for the majority of the first half, including Samantha Peebles starting out the game with back-to-back 3-point field goals.

The Golden Flyers held the lead from the 4:32 mark of the first quarter until a 3-pointer from Cusack near the three minute mark of the second quarter gave Fisher a 25-24 advantage.

It was 34-30 in favor of the Cardinals at the break.

Kelly had a game-high 22 points (7-of-11) and grabbed 12 boards for the double-double.

Peck was the only other Nazareth scorer in double figures with 13 points.  Peebles also chipped in eight points for the Golden Flyers.   

Nazareth returns to action on Tuesday when it will travel to Hartwick College for its final away game of the regular season.